Rev. 5:5,6 – And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals. And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
I read this sermon, THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST, by Jonathan Edwards for the first time flying across the ocean returning from a ministry trip. This is one of my top 3 favorite messages. I wept most of the way through this message the first time I read it, struck by the diverse excellencies of Jesus, the lamb of God and the lion of the tribe of Judah. This is exactly what brought the Apostle John to tears in his vision of the lion and the lamb, to see such strength and weakness in the same person takes your breath away. That is what Edwards built on in this sermon; justice and mercy, submission and sovereignty, all sufficient and dependent, holy and intimate, jealous and kind. To see these opposite qualities displayed in Jesus, the Son of God changes your entire perspective of this person, Jesus Christ. Here are a few quotes from Edwards sermon, THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST.
“Christ, as he is God, is infinitely great and high above all. He is higher than the kings of the earth: for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is higher than the heavens, and higher than the highest angels of heaven. So great is he, that all men, all kings and princes, are as worms of the dust before him, all nations are as the drop of the bucket, and the light dust of the balance; yea, and angels themselves are as nothing before him. He is so high, that he is infinitely above any need of us; above our reach, that we cannot be profitable to him, and above our conceptions, that we cannot comprehend him. And yet he is one of infinite condescension. None are so low, or inferior, but Christ’s condescension is sufficient to take a gracious notice of them. He condescends to take notice of beggars, and of servants, and people of the most despised nations…”
Have you seen Jesus like this for yourself. Even though He is holy and unapproachable, He is calling us into intimate fellowship with Himself. Even though He is glorified on His throne and given a name above every name, He has called us to be seated with Him on His throne. Despite the fact that our sins are many and disgusting, He sees us with mercy, acceptance, and love. Justice and mercy are seen clearly in Him, justice and mercy have reconciled at the cross of Jesus. Take a look at Jesus again, maybe you will see something of what John saw, the Lion and the Lamb